The Hiller Instinct: Hiller Instinct: Mike Huckabee

Call him the rockin' Republican. Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister who was governor of Arkansas for ten years, has played his way to the top of the political charts in Iowa.

Polls there show Huckabee has jumped from the back of the pack into a statistical tie for first with long-time leader Mitt Romney.

“How long do you think you can stay the flavor of the month,” Andy Hiller asked Huckabee.

“Hopefully, though November of 2008, and then beyond," Huckabee responded.

Feeling Huckabee's heat, Romney is attacking him, challenging his conservative credentials on issues like tuition breaks for children of illegal immigrants:

"Mike, that's not your money, that's the taxpayer’s money," Romney, (R) Presidential Candidate, said during the November 28 Republican debate.

Huckabee returns the fire, insisting he's "a very true conservative."

"And I didn't just become one this year, I’m not a new one,” Huckabee said. “I'm one that's done that for a long long time.”

“So, are you really what Mitt Romney pretends to be,” Hiller asked.

“I’m going to let Mitt Romney try to explain all of his positions, and there are plenty of them to explain,” Huckabee responded.

Married with three children, the 52-year-old Huckabee will get some big-time backup. If Barack Obama is counting on Oprah to help him win, and Hillary Clinton is countering with her husband and Barbra Streisand to put her on top, then Huckabee has nothing to fear, since he has Chuck Norris, who calls him compassionate and fearless, on his side.

“Do you think America is ready to elect a president named Huckabee,” Hiller asked.

Absolutely,” Huckabee said. ”Not only are they ready, they've waited for over 250 years for this moment, and finally after all this waiting they're going to get the opportunity to get the job finally done."

Will it be president Huckabee? I don't think so. He's short on money, doesn't have much of a national organization or any foreign policy experience.

But he's personable, persuasive, and peaking at the perfect time.

Bottom line: whether or not Huckabee wins the white house, he's mitt Romney’s nightmare in Iowa and maybe New Hampshire.

I’m Andy Hiller and that’s my Instinct.

(Copyright (c) 2007 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)